Because of the format change, he picked his squad. He wanted to win. He disagreed with a replay review. He challenged and fouled DeMar DeRozan as DeRozan drove to the basket instead of letting him throw down an uncontested dunk.

James – the oldest player in the game at 33 years old and playing in his 14th All-Star Game – came close to a triple-double: 29 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. He scored the winning basket on an assist from former teammate Kyrie Irving on a clever after-timeout play, and he assisted on the Russell Westbrook basket that put his team up 148-145.

“It's always been my fans who voted me in,” James said. “For 14 straight years, my fans have voted me in as an All-Star starter, and it's been up to me to go out and let them know and show them. Listen, I appreciate that and here's what I'm going to give to you every time you vote me in.”

James also won the award in 2006 and 2008, tying him with Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson, Shaquille O'Neal for second. Kobe Bryant and Bob Pettit each won the award four times.

Team LeBron played suffocating defense on the game’s final possession, refusing to let Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson attempt a three-point shot that would’ve tied the game. Team Stephen didn’t get off a potential tying shot before the final horn sounded.

“The great thing about our commissioner (Adam Silver), he's absolutely OK with trying something new, to change the format, and it definitely worked out for everybody,” James said. “It worked out not only for the players, not only for the league, but for our fans, for everybody. It was a great weekend, and we capped it off the right way.”

James, who is the All-Star Game’s all-time leading scorer with 343 points, made 12-of-17 shots, including 4-of-8 on three-pointers.

He also helped lead a comeback with Team LeBron trailing 133-120. James had eight points and two assists in the final 6:57 and his three-pointer with 1:30 remaining in the fourth quarter tied the score at 144-144.

NEWSLETTERS

Get the Sports newsletter delivered to your inbox

We're sorry, but something went wrong

Sports news, no matter the season. Stop by for the scores, stay for the stories.

“He's a joy to coach. He's a coach's coach,” Team LeBron coach Dwane Casey said. “He reiterates exactly what should be said, the right things. No BS. In the huddle defensively, he got the guys jacked up and juiced up as far as wanting to get a stop.”

Trailing 146-145, Team LeBron called a timeout and Casey designed a play. “The structure of the play, the initial thrust of the play worked out perfectly," Casey said. "We had the floor spaced the way we wanted to have. That's the main thing you want with great players is great spacing.”

Westbrook drove to the basket, drawing two defenders, and passed to Kyrie Irving who was cutting baseline. Irving also drew the attention of two defenders who turned their back on James who snuck into the paint undetected. Irving passed to James, and James made a left-handed layup over Draymond Green.

“I played with him a few times,” Irving said. “I saw the opportunity. I saw, before even Russ even passed to me, LeBron was going to circle to the rim, and (he's) one of the best finishers at the rim. So, it was kind of an easy drop-off to give us that lead. So we've done it plenty of times before, so nothing new.”

Said James: “Playing with Kyrie for so many games, you know if I just make myself available, he would find me.”

Now, James is looking ahead to the final 26 regular-season games. Just before the Feb. 8 trade deadline, the Cavs transformed their roster, acquiring Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr., from the Los Angeles Lakers, Rodney Hood from the Utah Jazz and George Hill from the Sacramento Kings.

The Cavs, who are in third place in the Eastern Conference and didn’t excel with new acquisitions Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder and Derrick Rose, won their three games following the trade and before the All-Star Game and looked good doing so especially in victories against Boston and Oklahoma City.

"Obviously winning championships is what it's all about,” James said. “That's what this league is all about, and hopefully at the end of the road, then I have the Cavs there to actually compete for one, to be in a Finals representing the East. So that's my goal."

“I'm looking forward to getting back to our guys. I know they're excited, and that's going to be my mindset. But we'll see what happens.”